EU committing $645 million to Colombia's peacebuilding

BRUSSELS – The European Union has committed to provide Colombia with a package of 575 million euros ($645 million) to help the nation recover from a half century of civil war.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said Friday the EU "will continue to accompany Colombia in the post-conflict phase. Solid peace can only be built if the final peace agreement is effectively implemented and the EU has vast experience in peace building."

Technical assistance, grants and loans will be released once a final peace agreement is signed.

Colombia's government and the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have been working on a peace accord since 2012 that would end their more than 50-year war. They have yet to reach agreement on a cease-fire and the disarming and demobilizing of rebels.